47. The outer attributes of the Word, which are its literal meaning, are represented by the decorated surfaces inside the Jerusalem temple.

This is because the Temple in Jerusalem represented the same things as the tabernacle did - heaven and the church, that is, and therefore also the Word.

The Lord himself tells us in John that the Temple in Jerusalem meant his divine human nature:

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was speaking of the temple of his body. (John 2:19, 21)

And when something means the Lord it also means the Word, because the Lord is the Word. Now, since the inner contents of the Temple represented the inner attributes of heaven and of the church and therefore of the Word as well, so too the decorated surfaces inside the Temple represented and referred to the outer attributes of heaven and of the church and therefore of the Word as well, which are the elements of its literal meaning.

We read of the Temple and its decorated surfaces inside that it was built of whole uncut stones and was paneled on the inside with cedar, and that all its interior walls were carved with angel guardians, palm trees, and open flowers, and its floor was overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:7, 9, 29-30), all referring to the outer attributes of the Word, which are the holy features of its literal meaning.